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District Conservationist moves to Imperial

By Carolyn LeeThe Imperial Republican Andy Keep followed in his father’s footsteps when he became a conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). As a result, he has moved many times before coming to Imperial. His father’s family also moved many times, so he really doesn’t have a “home town.” The 38-year-old graduated from Waverly High School in 1992, then the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2000 with a Bachelor of Natural Resources degree in environmental studies. Following a stint with the City of Lincoln Public Works Department, Keep was a soil conservationist in Benkelman for the NRCS from 2004-05. He then moved to Red Cloud, where he had the same position for a year, followed by a year in Delta, Colo., in the same position. Following that, Keep landed as district conservationist in Meeker, Colo., from 2007-08. He then was a resource conservationist in Neligh, Neb., from 2008 to the present. As district conservationist in Imperial, Keep is responsible for the USDA conservation programs with producers. He also works with the Upper Republican Natural Resources District to “try to help them achieve their natural resource conservation goals.” He oversees nine employees. Keep replaces Nadine Bishop, who is now the NRCS State Range Conservationist. Keep applied for the Imperial position because he’d worked in the area before. “Having been familiar with the area, I thought it was a good opportunity,” he commented. With his parents residing north of Lincoln, Keep enjoys fishing and playing golf in his free time.